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What do Windows, Skype, Xbox Live and OneDrive have in common? One simpler service agreement and privacy statement from Microsoft.

In a world of more personalized computing, customers need meaningful transparency and privacy protections. And those aren’t possible unless we get the basics right. For consumer services, that starts with clear terms and policies that both respect individual privacy and don’t require a law degree to read.

In an effort to further simplify the terms and policies for our customers, we’re updating the Microsoft Services Agreement and the Microsoft Privacy Statement effective Aug. 1 to reflect our latest services in a more streamlined format. Customers will begin receiving notice of these changes today.

The Microsoft Services Agreement will now expand to cover most of Microsoft’s consumer services, including Bing, Cortana, Microsoft account, OneDrive, Outlook.com, Skype and Xbox Live. A full list of products covered by this update to our terms of use can be found here. The Privacy Statement is also being refreshed and restructured, reducing redundancies and providing a singular, straightforward resource for understanding Microsoft’s commitments for protecting individual privacy with these services, and will also cover new technologies like the forthcoming Windows 10.

We’ve approached the updated agreement and privacy statement guided by a few key principles:

Simplicity: These changes bring together a number of previously separate – and often repetitive – documents to make it easier for customers to find and understand the information. Instead of agreeing to separate terms and statements for each service, customers who use more than one Microsoft service will be able to accept once for multiple services and review one privacy statement.

Transparency: Although we’ve simplified and consolidated the terms and policies, we didn’t want to over-simplify, either. We want to give consumers meaningful information about how we collect and use personal data. Thus, the privacy statement still provides the service-level details our customers need in order to understand the privacy implications of the services they use.

Privacy: These statements reiterate what we’ve said in the past: We don’t use customer communications to serve targeted ads to customers and we are committed to putting customers in control of their information.

It is important to note that these changes do not represent a change in Microsoft’s approach to customer privacy. We are simplifying the services agreement and privacy statement because we believe that real transparency starts with straightforward terms and policies that people can clearly understand. As our services evolve, we recognize we must continue earning your trust. These changes aim to help do just that.

I received my copy of the new terms in my email last night, and Brink's source is different from what I received, not by much, but different. If anyone would like to see my copy, it's here: Aug1 2015 MS New Policies Email

Thought it odd though that it will go into effect two days after the W10 debut.

TZ, see the last part after and:

Quote:

The Microsoft Services Agreement will now expand to cover most of Microsoft’s consumer services, including Bing, Cortana, Microsoft account, OneDrive, Outlook.com, Skype and Xbox Live. A full list of products covered by this update to our terms of use can be found here. The Privacy Statement is also being refreshed and restructured, reducing redundancies and providing a singular, straightforward resource for understanding Microsoft’s commitments for protecting individual privacy with these services, and will also cover new technologies like the forthcoming Windows 10.

Thanks,
Seems the only service that is unclear what constitutes usage is "Search the web and windows"
It clearly uses Bing and msnbc content combined with local search signed in or not with a M$ account in 10tp form

It would be a welcomed change if it did not do that in final release unless a user did use a M$ account.

That is all I've ever said in the past
If not using a M$ account why would these services be activated or installed for that matter setup should be a vanilla install just the basics
Get started... No apps installed and all are available at the store.

I read every word of both "agreements" twice and the notification email three times. As I understand, if I do not agree to the "agreement" then I can close my account.

This is stated as an "all or nothing" agreement - agree to everything or nothing at all...OK fine, I'll not agree...but there is no link or directions to NOT agree. Guess I'll have to log into my account (first time in two years) and search high and low...

Also, if I do NOT agree, especially to the BING, MSN, Cortana, Outhouse.com, Skype, XBox, and Store crap, WILL MS PROVIDE A WAY TO REMOVE THESE FROM MY OPERATING SYSTEM?

I read every word of both "agreements" twice and the notification email three times. As I understand, if I do not agree to the "agreement" then I can close my account.

This is stated as an "all or nothing" agreement - agree to everything or nothing at all...OK fine, I'll not agree...but there is no link or directions to NOT agree. Guess I'll have to log into my account (first time in two years) and search high and low...

Also, if I do NOT agree, especially to the BING, MSN, Cortana, Outhouse.com, Skype, XBox, and Store crap, WILL MS PROVIDE A WAY TO REMOVE THESE FROM MY OPERATING SYSTEM?

No? I thought so...

Regards,
GEWB

I am not a lawyer but isn't there a law that contracts in the U.S. have to be separate for each service or product or does that very by state law?

Microsoft updating terms of use and privacy statementIn an email today to its customers, Microsoft has announced new terms of use and privacy statement:
Microsoft Services Privacy Statement: http://www.microsoft.com/privacystatement/en-gb/windowsservices/default.aspx
Microsoft Services Agreement:...

News

Microsoft Services Agreement updateWill anyone be so kind as to condense the email sent to us regarding the services agreement update ?
Microsoft Service Agreement
In particular : what impacts to regular home users.
Thank you.
t-4-2